All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the Worlds. We ask Him to Bestow much of His Peace and Blessings upon our leader, Muhammad his family and Companions until the Day of Judgment.
The month of Ramadan occupies a refined status in the hearts of Muslims who believe in the One and Only Lord, Allah The Exalted, Lord of the Worlds. For Muslims, Ramadan is of great sentimental and spiritual value and emotional significance. It is the best month of the entire year. Ramadan is the month of mercy, forgiveness and emancipation from Hellfire. In it, are the last ten nights and, in them, the best night of the year (i.e. the Night of Al- Qadr). Whoever makes the most of this night (by worshipping Allah The Exalted), will achieve a great deal of good and reward.
This blessed month is the month of joy and bliss (i.e. of obedience and closeness to Allah The Exalted). In Ramadan, many of the basic acts of worship are performed. It is the month of fasting, night prayers, charity and other acts of worship.
Whenever the great, blessed and noble month of Ramadan approaches, the hearts of believers look forward to witnessing it, are gladdened by its coming and are overjoyed as it nears. The month of Ramadan is a great blessing from Allah The Exalted, not only in terms of its great and abundant reward and emancipation from Hellfire, but also because it abounds in priceless lessons. This value is only recognized by those who realize the wisdom behind fasting, its benefits and deep impact on the heart, soul, body and the society as a whole.
The month of Ramadan is distinguished from other months (as being the month of):
1. Forgiveness:
Abu Hurayrah, May Allah Be Pleased with him, reported that the Messenger of Allah said: "Whoever observes fasts during the month of Ramadan out of sincere faith and hoping to attain the rewards of Allah, then all his past sins will be forgiven." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
This means that whoever fasts Ramadan out of faith and hope for the reward only from Allah The Exalted and not to be seen and admired by people, his previous sins will be forgiven.
2. The gates of Paradise are opened and those of Hellfire are closed:
In the first night of this month, the gates of Paradise are opened and those of Hellfire are closed. Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Messenger of Allah said: "When it is the first night of Ramadan, devils and rebellious jinn are chained, the gates of the Fire are locked and not a single gate is opened. the gates of Paradise are opened and not a single gate is closed. Then, a caller calls out: 'O seeker of good, come forward, and O seeker of evil, desist. And there are many whom Allah Frees from Hellfire and this is in every night (of Ramadan)." [At-Tirmithi] [Al-Albaani: Saheeh]
This Hadeeth underlines many virtues and merits of the month of Ramadan.
3. One of the greatest acts of worship is performed in Ramadan:
This is one of the main reasons behind rejoicing at the coming of this month. Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Messenger of Allah said in a Hadeeth Qudsi: "Allah The Exalted Said: 'Every deed of the son of Aadam is for himself except for fasting because it is for Me and I Will Reward (him for) it … Fasting is a shield (from Hellfire and committing sins). If one of you is fasting, he should avoid sexual relations with his wife and quarreling and, if someone should fight with him, he should say, 'I am fasting'. By Him in Whose Hands my soul is, the unpleasant smell from the mouth of a fasting person is better in the Sight of Allah than the smell of musk. There are two joyous occasions for the fasting person, one at the time of breaking his fast and the other when he meets his Lord, for then he will rejoice because of his fasting." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
4. The believer should rejoice at the coming of this month. And they should rejoice at such glad tidings as Allah The Exalted Has Prepared so much (reward) for those who fast. Sahl, May Allah Be Pleased with him, reported that the Prophet said: "There is a gate in Paradise called Ar-Rayyaan through which none will enter but those who used to observe fasting. It will be said, 'Where are those who used to observe fasting?' They will get up and none except them will enter through it. After their entry, the gate will be closed and nobody will enter through it." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
My dear brother and sister,
The month of Ramadan creates a feeling of joy and delight in the hearts of believers. The Messenger of Allah said: "… There are two joyous occasions for the fasting person; one at the time of breaking his fast and the other when he meets his Lord, for then he will rejoice because of his fasting." [Muslim]. Ramadan is the optimal time for Muslims to relish joy and delight. How could the believer not rejoice at the coming of Ramadan when a gate of Paradise is opened for him? How could a believer not rejoice at the coming of Ramadan as he is given a chance for his past and future sins to be forgiven? How could a believer not rejoice at the coming of Ramadan when he is given a chance to be saved from Hellfire?
How could a believer not rejoice at the coming of Ramadan as the caller proclaims, "O seeker of good, come forward! Come forward in truth to the Lord of all creation and relish prosperity success and victory in this worldly life and in the Hereafter”? There is no doubt that this is the objective of each Muslim and the goal of all Muslims who believe in the One and Only True God.
How could a believer not rejoice at the coming of Ramadan nor be pleased to have been endowed with such a divine gift, having been granted a chance to escape Hellfire and winning the Pleasure of Allah, The Lord of the Worlds?
Lastly, we implore Allah The Exalted to Bestow upon us the blessing of witnessing this blessed month, Facilitate our fasting and prayers, Accept our modest attempts to please Him (through good deeds and acts of worship) and Pardon our numerous sins and misdeeds, for He Is Able and Competent to do that. He (Alone) Is Worthy (of this plead) and Is Able to bring this to pass. We ask Him to Bestow much of His Peace and Blessings upon our leader, Muhammad his family and Companions until the Day of Judgment. All praise is due to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds.